Dodgers vs. Lions (Game 1)

Joe's Dodgers played their fall season opener against the Lions on Saturday afternoon.  It felt like a parochial league game, as our team has several boys who go to school and church at St. Henry's (and Joe goes to church at St. Patrick) and most, if not all, of the Lions' players go to school and church at St. Matthews.  

In the first inning, Joe made the play of this or any other season at shortstop, when he dove to his left for a sharply hit ground ball, then threw out the runner at first by a half step from a seated position.  It was one of those plays where there's stunned silence, immediately followed by loud cheering and applause from fans of both teams.  After the play, as Joe and his teammates celebrated, I turned to JP - who is helping me coach the boys - and we shared a look of disbelief, started laughing, and high fived each other. 

It's funny but Joe has a knack for making "highlight reel" plays like that, often times in key moments. 

• His game ending catch at shortstop early on for the Diamondbacks, with Preston on the mound, when he dove into short left field and snared what looked like a sure base hit.
• His "deke play" in the spring end of season tournament a couple of seasons ago for the Diamondbacks, where he faked a throw from shortstop then turned Keaton (Braves) out when he started to run to third, ending the inning and got the D-backs a final at bat.  They won that one when William hit the shot heard 'round the (WNSL) world - a triple down the right field line as a thunderstorm rolled in.
• His nonchalant over the shoulder catch in left field for the Nationals last spring against the Reds' best hitter was amazing, particularly since he never plays outside.  That play, of course, immediately followed him catching fly ball and nearly throwing the runner who tagged up at third base out at home.  
• Also last spring, his diving catch of a line drive down the third base line and stomp on third base for an inning ending double play was huge, particularly when he stared down the umpire whom he thought and missed a call earlier in the inning.

Joe's a big moment guy, I think.

Bennett pitched great on Saturday but I made a huge mistake by trying to squeeze an extra inning out of him.  I'm rusty, I guess, as a head coach, because my normal move it to take a pitcher out an inning early when he's pitched well to build his confidence.  Also, it's easier for a new pitcher to start an inning rather than coming in to put out a fire in the middle of an inning.  Greed kills a baseball coach every time.

I brought Joe in to pitch in relief, in a tough spot, with bases loaded.  He didn't have it.  He hit two batters, walked two others, and just couldn't get settled in at all.  Ram replaced him and pitched well for the most part.  Joe doesn't have JP's control, at least not yet.  JP always had the ability to enter a game in any situation and throw strikes.  For Joe, at least lately, his control comes and goes.  

The Dodgers entered the bottom of the last inning down by two runs, with 11, 12, and 1 coming to bat.  George, batting last, smoked a two strike single to center field.  He's the fastest man alive, so he promptly stole second base (the pitcher was in the windup, not the stretch), third base, then scored on a single by Keaton.  

Keaton stole second and third base.  Joe hit a two strike ground ball to the pitcher with one out and Keaton scored.  Quietest walk off ground out in history.

It was interesting to be on the field, again, as the head coach.  I haven't done that since JP's Dodgers' last season in WNSL's Prep League, which I guess was in the fall of 2021.  It's a different feeling, for sure, to be the head coach, as opposed to an assistant coach.  As an assistant coach, it's all of the fun and none of the responsibility.  That's the way it was for me with the D-backs, for sure.  

As head coach, there's just more to worry about.  Lineups, in game decisions, who sits and who plays where, addressing the team before and after games, assistant coaches' egos, etc.  It's a lot and it's not easy but to me, that part of what makes it so satisfying.  It's hard and not everyone can do it and provide an enriching experience for the boys and, really, the parents, too.  Not many men want that responsibility.  

One thing I quickly realized, though, is that after the game on Saturday, I seemed to feel more drained and spent than after games when I coached JP's Dodgers.  That's probably not true, though, as I recall sitting by myself at Edley's after big games, or doubleheaders, and having an afternoon Miller Lite beer or two just to wind down.  I'm 57 now, not 47, so my energy level is different but I'm also out of practice, too.

If this fall season is the end - and I think it is - I'm going to enjoy every freaking minute of it.